Sir John Eliot Gardiner's Bach Cantata CDs

"Bach is probably the only composer whose musical output is so rich, so challenging to the performers and so spiritually uplifting to both performer and listener alike, that one would gladly spend a year in his exclusive company."--Sir John Eliot Gardiner

JS Bach appended the initials "SDG" (standing for Soli Deo Gloria --"to the Glory of God alone") to the end of each of his Cantatas scores.

SDG is now a record label dedicated to releasing the recordings made during Sir John Eliot Gardiner's Bach Cantata Pilgrimage: an ambitious tour that took place in the year 2000, when the Monteverdi Choir performed all of J.S. Bach's sacred cantatas in more than 60 churches across Europe to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the composer's death.

In total, SDG will release 51 CDs, each corresponding to one of the Bach Cantata Pilgrimage’s concerts, and including the cantatas Bach wrote for a specific liturgical feast. It is the first time that Bach cantatas are issued on CD in this coupling.

The CDs are packaged in a beautiful case-bound book, with stunning cover photos by Steve McCurry, detailed programme notes adapted from John Eliot Gardiner’s Pilgrimage Journal, and full sung texts and translations.

For more information on Johann Sebastian Bach, plus a complete list of available publications and CDs, click here